Top Social Security official to hold town hall in Sarasota

SARASOTA -- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan this week will hold a town hall meeting at New College with the acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Carolyn W. Colvin.

"I'm pleased that Commissioner Colvin has accepted my invitation to address the residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties," Buchanan said in a statement. "I wanted seniors in our region to have a chance to meet the person who runs one of the most important federal programs in the nation."

With more than 217,000 individuals receiving retirement and disability payments, Florida's 16th District is home to the second-highest number of Social Security beneficiaries in the country.

"Protecting Social Security is one of my highest priorities," said Buchanan, who is Florida's only member on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the Social Security program.

Colvin was nominated by President Barack Obama last year to serve as the Commissioner of Social Security. She has served as the acting commissioner since 2013.

The public forum will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sudakoff Conference Center at New College, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.

RSVP here or by calling 941-951-6643.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Top Social Security official to hold town hall in Sarasota ."